Golphers open season in Minnesota

BY ANDRES FOCIL

WAYZATA, Minn. — The 10th-ranked University of Arkansas men’s golf team opens its 2011-12 season on Sunday morning at the Gopher Invitational at the Spring Hill Golf Club in Wayzata, Minn. Sunday’s action includes two rounds with the final 18 holes scheduled for Monday afternoon. The Razorbacks return a young but experienced team this season with five players having seen significant collegiate action. Scheduled to compete for the Hogs at the Gopher Invitational are senior Ethan Tracy, junior Austin Cook, sophomores Sebastian Cappelen and Will Meason and freshman Kolton Crawford. Both Meason and Crawford are making their Razorback debuts. “We have three All-Americans back and depth throughout the lineup,” Razorback head coach Brad McMakin said. “This is a great tournament and the course is tough. Last year we came up a little bit short, but our guys want to take that next step. Qualifying for this tournament was very difficult and I think that we have an opportunity to be very competitive.” The Razorbacks are one of 14 teams scheduled to compete at the Gopher. Along with Arkansas and the host Minnesota, Iowa, Kent State, Liberty, North Texas, Notre Dame, SMU, Charlotte, Penn State, Lamar, Santa Clara, Houston and Wisconsin are scheduled to be in attendance. Arkansas will begin its season at 8:30 a.m. with players from Minnesota and Lamar on the first tee. The 2011 Gopher Invitational is Arkansas’ fifth trip to the event and the fourth time in the last five years that the Razorbacks have opened the season at the Spring Hill Golf Club. The Razorbacks finished third in 2010 behind LSU and Kent State while Sebastian Cappelen finished second individually in his first collegiate tournament at four-under par.